# Detailed Routing The Detailed Routing (`drt`) module in OpenROAD is based on the open-source detailed router, TritonRoute. TritonRoute consists of several main building blocks, including pin access analysis, track assignment, initial detailed routing, search and repair, and a DRC engine. The initial development of the [router](https://vlsicad.ucsd.edu/Publications/Conferences/363/c363.pdf) is inspired by the [ISPD-2018 initial detailed routing contest](http://www.ispd.cc/contests/18/). However, the current framework differs and is built from scratch, aiming for an industrial-oriented scalable and flexible flow. TritonRoute provides industry-standard LEF/DEF interface with support of [ISPD-2018](http://www.ispd.cc/contests/18/) and [ISPD-2019](http://www.ispd.cc/contests/19/) contest-compatible route guide format. ## Commands ```{note} - Parameters in square brackets `[-param param]` are optional. - Parameters without square brackets `-param2 param2` are required. ``` ### Detailed Route This command performs detailed routing. Developer arguments - `-or_seed`, `-or_k` Distributed arguments - `-distributed` , `-remote_host`, `-remote_port`, `-shared_volume`, `-cloud_size` ```tcl detailed_route [-output_maze filename] [-output_drc filename] [-output_cmap filename] [-output_guide_coverage filename] [-drc_report_iter_step step] [-db_process_node name] [-disable_via_gen] [-droute_end_iter iter] [-via_in_pin_bottom_layer layer] [-via_in_pin_top_layer layer] [-or_seed seed] [-or_k k] [-bottom_routing_layer layer] [-top_routing_layer layer] [-verbose level] [-distributed] [-remote_host rhost] [-remote_port rport] [-shared_volume vol] [-cloud_size sz] [-clean_patches] [-no_pin_access] [-min_access_points count] [-save_guide_updates] [-repair_pdn_vias layer] [-single_step_dr] ``` #### Options | Switch Name | Description | | ----- | ----- | | `-output_maze` | Path to output maze log file (e.g. `output_maze.log`). | | `-output_drc` | Path to output DRC report file (e.g. `output_drc.rpt`). | | `-output_cmap` | Path to output congestion map file (e.g. `output.cmap`). | | `-output_guide_coverage` | Path to output guide coverage file (e.g. `sample_coverage.csv`). | | `-drc_report_iter_step` | Report DRC on each iteration which is a multiple of this step. The default value is `0`, and the allowed values are integers `[0, MAX_INT]`. | | `-db_process_node` | Specify the process node. | | `-disable_via_gen` | Option to diable via generation with bottom and top routing layer. The default value is disabled. | | `-droute_end_iter` | Number of detailed routing iterations. The default value is `-1`, and the allowed values are integers `[1, 64]`. | | `-via_in_pin_bottom_layer` | Via-in pin bottom layer name. | | `-via_in_pin_top_layer` | Via-in pin top layer name. | | `-or_seed` | Refer to developer arguments [here](#developer-arguments). | | `-or_k` | Refer to developer arguments [here](#developer-arguments). | | `-bottom_routing_layer` | Bottommost routing layer name. | | `-top_routing_layer` | Topmost routing layer name. | | `-verbose` | Sets verbose mode if the value is greater than 1, else non-verbose mode (must be integer, or error will be triggered.) | | `-distributed` | Refer to distributed arguments [here](#distributed-arguments). | | `-clean_patches` | Clean unneeded patches during detailed routing. | | `-no_pin_access` | Disables pin access for routing. | | `-min_access_points` | Minimum access points for standard cell and macro cell pins. | | `-save_guide_updates` | Flag to save guides updates. | | `-repair_pdn_vias` | This option is used for PDKs where M1 and M2 power rails run in parallel. | #### Developer arguments Some arguments that are helpful for developers are listed here. | Switch Name | Description | | ----- | ----- | | `-or_seed` | Random seed for the order of nets to reroute. The default value is `-1`, and the allowed values are integers `[0, MAX_INT]`. | | `-or_k` | Number of swaps is given by $k * sizeof(rerouteNets)$. The default value is `0`, and the allowed values are integers `[0, MAX_INT]`. | ### Detailed Route Debugging The following command and arguments are useful when debugging error messages from `drt` and to understand its behavior. ```tcl detailed_route_debug [-pa] [-ta] [-dr] [-maze] [-net name] [-pin name] [-box x1 y1 x2 y2] [-iter iter] [-pa_markers] [-dump_dr] [-dump_dir dir] [-dump_last_worker] [-pa_edge] [-pa_commit] [-write_net_tracks] ``` #### Options | Switch Name | Description | | ----- | ----- | | `-pa` | Enable debug for pin access. | | `-ta` | Enable debug for track assignment. | | `-dr` | Enable debug for detailed routing. | | `-maze` | Enable debug for maze routing. | | `-net` | Enable debug for net name. | | `-pin` | Enable debug for pin name. | | `-box` | Set the box for debugging given by lower left/upper right coordinates. | | `-worker` | Debugs routes that pass through the point `{x, y}`. | | `-iter` | Specifies the number of debug iterations. The default value is `0`, and the accepted values are integers `[0, MAX_INT`. | | `-pa_markers` | Enable pin access markers. | | `-dump_dr` | Filename for detailed routing dump. | | `-dump_dir` | Directory for detailed routing dump. | | `-pa_edge` | Enable visibility of pin access edges. | | `-pa_commit` | Enable visibility of pin access commits. | | `-write_net_tracks` | Enable writing of net track assigments. | ### Check Pin Access This function checks pin access. ```tcl pin_access [-db_process_node name] [-bottom_routing_layer layer] [-top_routing_layer layer] [-min_access_points count] [-verbose level] [-distributed] [-remote_host rhost] [-remote_port rport] [-shared_volume vol] [-cloud_size sz] ``` #### Options | Switch Name | Description | | ----- | ----- | | `-db_process_node` | Specify process node. | | `-bottom_routing_layer` | Bottommost routing layer. | | `-top_routing_layer` | Topmost routing layer. | | `-min_access_points` | Minimum number of access points per pin. | | `-verbose` | Sets verbose mode if the value is greater than 1, else non-verbose mode (must be integer, or error will be triggered.) | | `-distributed` | Refer to distributed arguments [here](#distributed-arguments). | #### Distributed Arguments We have compiled all distributed arguments in this section. ```{note} Additional setup is required. Please refer to this [guide](./doc/Distributed.md). ``` | Switch Name | Description | | ----- | ----- | | `-distributed` | Enable distributed mode with Kubernetes and Google Cloud. | | `-remote_host` | The host IP. | | `-remote_port` | The value of the port to access from. | | `-shared_volume` | The mount path of the nfs shared folder. | | `-cloud_size` | The number of workers. | ## Useful Developer Commands If you are a developer, you might find these useful. More details can be found in the [source file](./src/TritonRoute.cpp) or the [swig file](./src/TritonRoute.i). | Command Name | Description | | ----- | ----- | | `detailed_route_set_default_via` | Set default via. | | `detailed_route_set_unidirectional_layer` | Set unidirectional layer. | | `step_dr` | Refer to function `detailed_route_step_drt`. | | `check_drc` | Refer to function `check_drc_cmd`. | ## Example scripts Example script demonstrating how to run TritonRoute on a sample design of `gcd` in the Nangate45 technology node. ```shell # single machine example ./test/gcd_nangate45.tcl # distributed example ./test/gcd_nangate45_distributed.tcl ``` ## Regression tests There are a set of regression tests in `./test`. For more information, refer to this [section](../../README.md#regression-tests). Simply run the following script: ```shell ./test/regression ``` ## Limitations ## FAQs Check out [GitHub discussion](https://github.com/The-OpenROAD-Project/OpenROAD/discussions/categories/q-a?discussions_q=category%3AQ%26A+tritonroute+in%3Atitle) about this tool. ## References Please cite the following paper(s) for publication: 1. A. B. Kahng, L. Wang and B. Xu, "TritonRoute: The Open Source Detailed Router", IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems (2020), doi:10.1109/TCAD.2020.3003234. [(.pdf)](https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/ielaam/43/9358030/9120211-aam.pdf) 1. A. B. Kahng, L. Wang and B. Xu, "The Tao of PAO: Anatomy of a Pin Access Oracle for Detailed Routing", Proc. ACM/IEEE Design Automation Conf., 2020, pp. 1-6. [(.pdf)](https://vlsicad.ucsd.edu/Publications/Conferences/377/c377.pdf) ## Authors TritonRoute was developed by graduate students Lutong Wang and Bangqi Xu from UC San Diego, and serves as the detailed router in the [OpenROAD](https://theopenroadproject.org/) project. ## License BSD 3-Clause License. See [LICENSE](LICENSE) file.